Jake Paul lost a fight. Now what?

Well, it happened.

Jake Paul, the YouTube star-turned-prizefighter who kept his undefeated streak alive for longer than just about anyone would have expected, lost a boxing match for the first time.

He came up short against rival Tommy Fury on Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, losing by split decision despite scoring a knockdown in the eighth round.

"Didn't think I'd ever have to make one of these videos," Paul said in a video he posted on Instagram after the fight. "But shit happens, I guess."

This is unfamiliar territory for Paul, now 6-1 as a professional. So where does he go from here?

Back in 2020, when Paul made his pro boxing debut, this was nothing more than an experiment. It had only been a couple years since KSI and Paul's older brother, Logan Paul, started the whole influencer-turned-boxer craze by squaring off in an amateur bout in 2018 and then as professionals one year later. Had Jake Paul lost one of his first few fights - against Ali Eson Gib, Nate Robinson, or even Ben Askren - there is a good chance we wouldn't be talking about him boxing in 2023 at all.

But in the past three years, Paul beat all those guys and more, turning the experiment into a phenomenon that completely shook up the boxing world. Paul has headlined blockbuster pay-per-view events and made millions. Legitimate boxers and MMA fighters talk about him - and some want to fight him. When former UFC star Nate Diaz left the promotion to test free agency, many believed the biggest matchup available was Paul. Other internet personalities - and even pro athletes - are getting unexpectedly huge opportunities in combat sports. Paul has essentially turned celebrity boxing into an entire subgenre.

He has, at least for now, hit a ceiling in terms of his skill level and ability. But considering he already overachieved by beating the likes of former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley, the interest in the 26-year-old is not going to disappear overnight. After all, he was competitive against a supposed real boxer in Fury, who is now 9-0. Paul didn't get blown out of the water at all. Fury is the half-brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and grew up in a boxing family. Paul didn't start training until his early 20s. Even though he was a small betting favorite against Fury, there's no shame in a narrow loss. And it will make him better.

That said, Paul's box-office success largely has and will always hinge on one thing: winning. And he will need to win again or fans will lose interest. At the very beginning of his career, the draw of watching a novice like him compete in the ring was the shock factor and the unknown. People wanted to see how far this polarizing YouTube star could actually go. Wins were important and losses would be costly. Now, Paul has lost to a real boxer, and he has to do something about it.

Paul's next fight will be, without a doubt, his most important to date. Depending on the opponent, the result of the fight may determine how much longer Paul's boxing run will last - or whether it continues at all.

The three most viable opponents for Paul are Fury, fellow YouTube star KSI, and Diaz. Fury and Paul both said after their fight they were interested in a rematch, while KSI trashed Paul on social media after his loss, which could be used as promotional material should they schedule a fight. Going into the Fury bout, Paul had said he wanted Diaz next, but it's unclear whether Diaz is interested now that Paul has lost. All three are good options, but all three come with risks.

If Paul were to face Fury again and win, he would redeem himself - his stock would go back to where it was before the loss, and his stardom would be intact. If Paul were to lose to Fury again, it would probably indicate that his time in boxing is running out, but there would still be a couple interesting matchups on the table. Paul could admit he is never going to fight for a world title and instead settle for a couple more big paydays against lesser competition.

It might be a wiser decision for Paul to work up to a Fury rematch by fighting KSI or Diaz. Those are beatable opponents compared to Fury, and Paul clearly still needs to grow as a boxer. By getting back on track, he would make a Fury rematch even more financially lucrative, which is what this is all about.

But at the same time, Paul would have more to lose against KSI or Diaz. If he were to fall short to either man - which isn't out of the question - that could spell the end for him.

It's one thing to lose to a real boxer. But when he starts losing to other non-boxers, that's when the masses will likely opt out of the Jake Paul experience for good.

"The Problem Child" is officially on the hot seat.